Vehicle with a satellite dish mounting mechanism for deployably mounting a satellite dish to the vehicle and method for deployably mounting a satellite dish to a vehicle

Abstract

A telescopic mast is provided for deployably mounting a satellite dish to a vehicle. The telescopic mast preferably is secured to a rear surface of a truck cab or other vehicle. The satellite dish is deployable via extension of the telescopic mast. The telescopic mast includes a base tube secured to the back of the vehicle and a shaft telescopically mounted within the base tube. The shaft has a dish carrier portion adapted to carry the satellite dish. The shaft is telescopically movable between a first position wherein the dish carrier portion is higher than a roof of the vehicle, and a second position wherein the dish carrier portion is lower than the roof of the vehicle to thereby protect the dish carrier portion from exposure to wind generated by movement of the vehicle to protect the dish carrier portion from road debris. A releasable locking device selectively prevents telescopic extension and retraction of the shaft with respect to the base tube. A rotational lock is connected to the base tube for releasably preventing rotation of the base tube. The rotational lock is releasable to permit rotation of the base tube and thereby permit rotational alignment of the dish carrier portion with a desired satellite signal.

I claim: 
     
       1. A vehicle comprising: a vehicle body having a top portion and a substantially vertical back surface facing generally rearwardly with respect to a forward traveling direction of said vehicle; and   a satellite dish mounting mechanism attached to said back surface of said vehicle body for deployably mounting a satellite dish to the vehicle, said satellite dish mounting mechanism comprising: a base member; and   a movable member operatively connected to said base member for movement with respect to the base member in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of said base member, said movable member having a dish carrier portion adapted to carry a satellite dish,   wherein said base member is connected to said back surface of said vehicle body so that said movable member is movable with respect to said base member and said vehicle body between a first position wherein said dish carrier portion is adapted to position the satellite dish higher than said top portion of said vehicle body so that the satellite dish is exposed to a satellite signal, and a second position wherein said dish carrier portion is adapted to position the satellite dish lower than said top portion of said vehicle body so that the satellite dish is protected by said vehicle body from exposure to wind generated by forward movement of said vehicle.     
     
     
       2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said base member comprises a base tube and said movable member is telescopically mounted within said base tube. 
     
     
       3. The vehicle of claim 1, said satellite dish mounting mechanism further comprising at least one bracket for securing the base member to the back surface of said vehicle body. 
     
     
       4. The vehicle of claim 3, said satellite dish mounting mechanism further comprising a spacer connected to each of said at least one bracket for spacing the base member from said back surface of said vehicle body. 
     
     
       5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said base member comprises a base tube and said movable member is telescopically mounted within said base tube, and said satellite dish mounting mechanism further comprises: a first mounting bracket located toward a bottom end of the base tube, for securing the base tube to the back surface of said vehicle body; and   a second mounting bracket located toward a top end of the base tube, for securing the base tube to the back surface of said vehicle body.   
     
     
       6. The vehicle of claim 5, said satellite dish mounting mechanism further comprising: a first spacer connected to said first mounting bracket for spacing the base tube from the back surface of said vehicle body; and   a second spacer connected to the second mounting bracket for spacing the base tube from the back surface of said vehicle body.   
     
     
       7. The vehicle of claim 6, said satellite dish mounting mechanism further comprising: a first gasket located against said first spacer, and arranged between the back surface of said vehicle body and said first mounting bracket to form a seal that keeps moisture out of an interface between said first spacer and the back surface; and   a second gasket located against said second spacer, and arranged between the back surface of said vehicle body and said second mounting bracket to form a seal that keeps moisture out of an interface between said second spacer and the back surface.   
     
     
       8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said base member comprises a base tube and said movable member comprises a shaft which is telescopically mounted within said base tube such that: said first position is achievable by telescopically extending said shaft from said base tube, and   said second position is achievable by retracting said shaft into the base tube.   
     
     
       9. The vehicle of claim 8, said satellite dish mounting mechanism further comprising a locking device for selectively preventing relative movement of the shaft with respect to the base tube. 
     
     
       10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein said base tube is fixed to the back of the vehicle. 
     
     
       11. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein said base tube is fixed to back of a truck cab such that, in said first position, said dish carrier portion is higher than the roof of the truck cab and, in said second position, said dish carrier portion is lower than the roof of the truck cab and is thereby protected by said truck cab from exposure to wind generated by movement of said truck cab. 
     
     
       12. The vehicle of claim 8, said satellite dish mounting mechanism further comprising: a first mounting bracket located toward a bottom end of the base tube, for securing the base tube to the back surface of said vehicle body; and   a second mounting bracket located toward a top end of the base tube, for securing the base tube to the back surface of said vehicle body.   
     
     
       13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein said first and second mounting brackets are secured to the back of the vehicle. 
     
     
       14. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein said first and second mounting brackets are secured to the back of a truck cab such that, in said first position, said dish carrier portion is higher than the roof of the truck cab and, in said second position, said dish carrier portion is lower than the roof of the truck cab and is thereby protected by said truck cab from exposure to wind generated by movement of said truck cab. 
     
     
       15. The vehicle of claim 12, said satellite dish mounting mechanism further comprising a locking device for selectively preventing relative movement of the shaft with respect to the base tube. 
     
     
       16. The vehicle of claim 12, said satellite dish mounting mechanism further comprising: a rotational lock connected to the base tube for releasably preventing rotation of the base tube, said rotational lock being releasable to permit rotation of the base tube and thereby permit rotational alignment of the dish carrier portion with a desired satellite signal.   
     
     
       17. The vehicle of claim 8, said satellite dish mounting mechanism further comprising a mechanical stop located between the shaft and the base tube, for preventing over-extension of said shaft with respect to the base tube. 
     
     
       18. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein said locking device comprises a clamp located toward the top of the base tube and fixed to the base tube, said clamp being manually actuatable to engage said shaft and thereby prevent movement of the shaft with respect to the base tube after a desired amount of shaft extension is achieved. 
     
     
       19. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said top portion of said vehicle body comprises a roof of a passenger compartment of said vehicle body. 
     
     
       20. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said back surface of said vehicle body comprises a back wall of a truck cab. 
     
     
       21. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a satellite dish carried by said dish carrier portion. 
     
     
       22. A vehicle comprising: a vehicle body having a top portion and a substantially vertical back surface facing generally rearwardly with respect to a forward traveling direction of said vehicle; and   a satellite dish mounting mechanism for deployably mounting a satellite dish to said back surface of said vehicle body, said satellite dish mounting mechanism comprising: a base tube secured to the back surface of said vehicle body;   a shaft telescopically mounted within said base tube, said shaft having a dish carrier portion adapted to carry a satellite dish, said shaft being telescopically mounted within said base tube so as to be movable between a first position wherein said dish carrier portion is adapted to position the satellite dish higher than said top portion of said vehicle body, and a second position wherein said dish carrier portion is adapted to position the satellite dish lower than said top portion of the vehicle body and is thereby protected by said vehicle body from exposure to wind generated by forward movement of said vehicle;   a releasable locking device for selectively preventing telescopic extension and retraction of the shaft with respect to the base tube; and   a rotational lock connected to the base tube for releasably preventing rotation of the base tube, said rotational lock being releasable to permit rotation of the base tube and thereby permit rotational alignment of the dish carrier portion with a desired satellite signal.     
     
     
       23. A vehicle comprising: a vehicle body having a top portion and a substantially vertical back surface facing generally rearwardly with respect to a forward traveling direction of said vehicle; and   a satellite dish mounting mechanism for deployably mounting a satellite dish to the back surface of the vehicle body, said mechanism comprising: a base tube secured to the back surface of said vehicle body;   a shaft telescopically mounted within said base tube, said shaft having a satellite dish mounted near a distal end of the shaft, said shaft being telescopically mounted within said base tube so as to be movable between a first position wherein said mechanism is adapted to position the satellite dish high enough to receive a desired satellite signal in an unobstructed manner, and a second position wherein said mechanism is adapted to position the satellite dish lower than said top portion of the vehicle body so that the satellite dish is protected by said vehicle body from exposure to wind generated by forward movement of said vehicle;   a releasable locking device for selectively preventing telescopic extension and retraction of the shaft with respect to the base tube; and   a rotational lock connected to the base tube for releasably preventing rotation of the base tube, said rotational lock being releasable to permit rotation of the base tube and thereby permit rotational alignment of the satellite dish with the desired satellite signal.     
     
     
       24. A method for deployably mounting a satellite dish to a vehicle, said method comprising: attaching a base member to a substantially vertical surface of a vehicle facing generally rearwardly with respect to a forward traveling direction of the vehicle;   operatively connecting a movable member to said base member so that said movable member is movable with respect to said base member in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of said base member;   fixing a dish carrier portion onto said movable portion, said dish carrier portion being adapted to carry a satellite dish on said distal end of said shaft; and   arranging said base member and said movable member so that said movable member is movable with respect to said base member between a first position wherein said dish carrier portion is adapted to position the satellite dish higher than a top portion of the vehicle, and a second position wherein said dish carrier portion is adapted to position the satellite dish lower than the top portion of the vehicle so that the satellite dish is protected by a portion of the vehicle from exposure to wind generated by forward movement of the vehicle.